EXCLUSIVE: G.I. JOE about to go to new home?

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2003

A industry source for has informed us that Hasbro, the toy manufacturer of the G.I. JOE line, may be close to closing a new deal with a major Hollywood studio for the film rights to JOE. For the last few years the rights were controlled by producer Lawrence Kasanoff (MORTAL KOMBAT) and his Threshold Entertainment production company. According to the 4Filmmakers website, a deal between Kasanoff and Warner Bros. existed. Nevertheless, the 4Filmmakers site hasn't updated its G.I. JOE page for more than two years, meaning the WB/Kasanoff partnership is old news in Hollywood.

According to our source, Hasbro has closed or is very close to closing a deal with none other than DreamWorks Pictures for a JOE movie.

In recent years the G.I. JOE franchise has seen a resurgence in pop culture. A new line of toys and a hit comic book series have returned JOE back to older fans and created a new wave of popularity with younger individuals.

While our source could not confirm with absolute certainty that DreamWorks was close to acquiring G.I. JOE rights, another source (speaking off the record) said that a new deal with a Hollywood company was imminent. Could that be DreamWorks?


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